President of VNA Care to Retire after Six Years

VNA Care, a Worcester nonprofit that provides home, palliative, and supportive health care, recently announced that Mary Ann OConnor will retire in January after serving six years as president/CEO.

During OConnor's tenure, the organization merged with VNA of Boston, VNA Hospice Care, and UMass Memorial Home Care & Hospice, and is now the largest non-hospital affiliated home health, palliative and hospice provider in New England, providing care to patients in 200 eastern and central Massachusetts communities.

The VNA Care board of directors has engaged a health care executive search firm specializing in home care and hospice to conduct the search for OConnor's successor.

Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County ED to Step Down

Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County, a nonprofit based in Williamstown, that serves lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender seniors who live in Berkshire County, recently announced that its executive director, Ed Sedarbaum, will step down two years after founding the organization.

Sedarbaum, who founded the organization, wrote in email, "As Rainbow Seniors heads into our third year, its time for new leadership."

Sedarbaum noted that Rainbow Seniors' finances are secure through next September and that Elder Services of Berkshire County, which has supported his group since it launched in 2015, to will continue to work with the group.

Soldier On Gets Grants from Local Nonprofit Theater

Soldier On, a nonprofit based in Leeds committed to ending veteran homelessness, recently was awarded $9,000 from the WAM Theatre, nonprofit based in Lee that has a philanthropic mission to benefit women and girls locally, nationally, or internationally.

The donation was the largest yet made by WAM, according to a report in Broadway World Boston.

Since 1994, Soldier On has provided homeless veterans with transitional housing and supportive services. In 2005, the organization began offering services to women veterans that aim to provide women veterans with a safe, structured environment that gives them a chance to regain a stable footing after returning from active duty.

WAM Theatre, founded in 2010, to create professional theatrical events for everyone, with a focus on women theatre artists and/or stories of women and girls. Since then, it has donated $41,500 to 13 nonprofit organizations.

SPUR Relocates New Home in Marblehead

SPUR, a Marblehead nonprofit that aims to motivate youth and adults to engage in good deeds that build stronger communities, recently opened its first office at 6 Anderson St. after operating out of the home of its founder and executive director, Jocelyn Cook, for the past three years.

Cook was quoted in Marblehead Wicked Local saying, We wanted this to be a space that people are proud of. Were accomplishing a lot together.

Founded in 2014, SPUR focuses its efforts in Lynn, Marblehead, Salem, and Swampscott. In 2016, 827 households engaged in service, while the organization received the Nonprofit of the Year Award from the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce. So far in 2017, SPUR volunteers have logged more than 1,300 hours, including more than 300 hours by children.

Travis Roy Foundation Moves into Its First Office

The Travis Roy Foundation, a Boston nonprofit that funds medical research on treatments to treat damage to the central nervous system and works to enhance the life of individuals with spinal cord injuries, announced it has moved into its first office.

This office will be a game-changer, said Travis Roy, founder of the foundation, who suffered a serious spinal cord injury 22 years ago as a player on the Boston University hockey team, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.

Until now, the foundation operated with two part-time staff and volunteers. An anonymous, 10-year gift funded the move to the 2000-square-foot space, at 101 Huntington Avenue, and enabled the organization to staff up with four full- and part-time employees.

The Travis Roy Foundation had been based at Roy's home since it launched in 1997.

Philanthropy Connection Invites Nonprofits to Apply for Grants

The Philanthropy Connection (TPC), a Cambridge-based charitable fund that seeks to improve the quality of life for low-resource individuals and families living in Massachusetts, announced it is seeking grant applications from Greater Boston nonprofits.

TPC said it will award grants of $25,000 to 501(c)(3) organizations, or organizations that have a fiscal sponsor, with annual revenue between $200,000 and $2 million. Grants will be awarded to proposals that address issues relating to poverty, income inequality, employment opportunity and readiness, educational opportunity and readiness, health and wellness, and/or social bias.

Cape Cod Foundation Seeks Grant Applications from Nonprofits

The Cape Cod Foundation, based in South Yarmouth, recently announced it is accepting proposals from nonprofit organizations for projects and programs benefitting domesticated animals and wildlife on Cape Cod and the Islands.

Last year, the foundation awarded $39,500 from the Thomas C. McGowan Fund for Animals to 10 local organizations to support local spay/neuter programs, critical care clinics, and marine life rescue and rehabilitation.